Chuck Collingwood

Chuck Collingwood was born in 1949 and raised on a dairy farm in Greenfield, Indiana, where he developed a strong work ethic. At 18, he joined the US Army and served with the 82nd Airborne Infantry Unit, completing an 18-month tour in Vietnam. During his deployment, he was injured by a grenade launcher, nearly losing his eye, and received a Purple Heart for his bravery. Upon returning to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Chuck joined the parachute club, where his natural talent for skydiving quickly became evident.

Golden Knights and Competitive Achievements:

Chuck was recruited by the US Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, where he spent eight years and completed 5,200 competitive jumps. His achievements included:

• 1973 Pan American Cup Parachuting Championships: National Champion.
• 1973 World Military Parachuting Championships (CISM): Champion Team.
• 1973 US Nationals: National Parachuting Champion, Individual Style Champion.
• Numerous World Records in Individual and Team Accuracy.

He was named US Army Golden Knight of the Year in 1973 and earned a Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd award.

Special Forces and Delta Force:

After his time with the Golden Knights, Chuck joined the Army’s Special Forces and earned his green beret. He was then selected for Delta Force, where he developed the High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) and High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) programs, which are still in use today. Chuck also played a key role in the unit’s weapons training.

Post-Military Career:

Chuck retired from the military in 1987 after 20 years of service. He was recruited by the Department of Energy to the Nevada Test Site as a supervisor of training. Later, he joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) at age 45, where he served in patrol, the Gang Unit, and SWAT for 21 years. He was a sniper, armorer, and firearms trainer, earning two more Purple Hearts during his law enforcement career.

Legacy and Hall of Fame:

Chuck passed away unexpectedly in June 2018 at age 68, while preparing for the 2018 World Freefall Style & Accuracy Landing Championships in Bulgaria. He was posthumously inducted into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to skydiving and his distinguished military and law enforcement careers. His dedication, skill, and mentorship left an indelible mark on the skydiving community and beyond.